Company website: www.johnlewispartnership.co.uk
Address: John Lewis Partnership, Carlisle Place, London, SW1P 1BX
Number of employees: 70,000
Company summary: The John Lewis Partnership (JLP) operates 32 John Lewis shops across the UK (28 department stores and four John Lewis at home), johnlewis.com, John Lewis Insurance and 237 Waitrose supermarkets. Our business has an annual turnover of over £7.4bn. Our founder's vision of a successful business powered by its people - and our principles - defines our unique company today. We are the UK's largest example of an employee-owned business, where the profits and benefits of our success are shared by our 70,000 partners.
Pay and benefits: We offer a comprehensive reward and benefits strategy to help our partners balance their work and home lives and stay committed to long-term careers. As part of this, we offer a share of profits in the form of an annual bonus, and invest significantly in company hotels such as Brownsea Castle in Poole, subsidised group leisure activities as diverse as sailing and singing. We also provide partners with financial assistance, medical services and legal advice.
Promotion and development: Our co-ownership structure allows us to focus on partners, which means we retain motivated and valuable employees. During 2009 to 2010 we formulated an integrated approach to learning and career development. From graduates and school leavers to senior management, training and development allows our partners to achieve a high level of excellence.
Company culture: The Partnership is commercial and competitive, but our co-ownership business model also allows us to take a long-term view and build lasting, mutually beneficial relationships with suppliers, customers and neighbours. We aim to deal honestly with our customers and secure their loyalty and trust through outstanding choice, value and service.
Diversity, social responsibility: We are committed to providing equal opportunities and developing a working environment where everyone is engaged in the partnership - not just partners, but customers, suppliers and neighbours too. We are a member of the Corporate Leaders Group on Climate Change; our chairman, Charlie Mayfield, is a commissioner for the UK Commission on Employment and Skills; and we have been closely involved with Business in the Community for many years.
Environment and sustainability: We are committed to reducing our impact on the environment and promoting good environmental practice. We have committed to making an absolute reduction in our emissions and started developing a carbon footprint reduction programme.
Innovation: Our long-term outlook means we can invest in cutting-edge innovation. We continue to focus on multichannel retailing, through our branches, online and new store formats as a way of maintaining and improving our excellent service.
Opportunities: We are looking to double in size over the next decade and are exploring a number of new routes to market for our products. For example, Waitrose is trialling partnerships with Welcome Break, Shell and Boots to reach more customers in the food-to-go sector.
